personal statement个人陈述

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am applying for a MA in Literary Studies in Aberystwyth University. My name is Bai Yu. I completed my BA in English from Xi’an Fanyi University in China in June 2013 and for the being time I am studying for my master degree in Northwest University, majoring British and American Literature.

My love for English started from my interest of listening to English songs when I was in my secondary school. And as a big fan of Taylor Swift, I has been fascinated by all her lyrics which seem like beautiful poems for many years. It was also her song that inspired me to read English poems and to enjoy the beauty of language since I was in my high school. At that time, my favourite poetess was Emily Dickson whose poems always could describe the complicated moral and psychological truths by quite simple and short sentences.

After graduating from high school, I chose English as my major resolutely entering to my college for four-year study in Xi’an Fanyi University where I commenced my new exploration of English study. English made me more confident and stronger by reading a great quantity of English literary books and participating in various kinds of English speech contests and debate competitions. The books I read covered a wide range of types including poems, novels and dramas. Shelley and Keats were two poets I favored most, while Jane Austen was one of my favourite female novelist whose Pride and Prejudice , showing the strong sense of rationality and good manners of a lady impressed me deeply, and I never got bored reading it always. Except for reading, I also liked to attend competitions to challenge myself. For example, I once won the runner-up in English debate competition in 2009 in Xi’an Fanyi University, which encouraged me a lot in my pursuit of success.

Furthermore, I not only focused on study, but also joined the Student Union and Oral English Pioneer Team in which I needed to organize some activities with my teammates, such as holding an English song party and organizing a lecture for students to have a discussion of some hot issues in society. In my spare time, sometimes, I would like to help others, because I could always take pleasure in helping others. From September to October in 2011, I chose to be a volunteer introducing the whole Park in English or Chinese in Xi’an International Horticultural Exposition , although it made me feel so tired, as I had to stand there and to work for eight hours everyday. I still cherished that period as a valuable experience for me.

My four-year college life both in English literary study and practical work experience developed me into an independent and diligent person. Having made a solid foundation of English literary knowledge and a full preparation of life experience, I succeeded in furthering my study in Northwest University now. It has been almost one year since I entered in this school. I am very interested in what courses I have taken, as I have more access to British and American literature. For instance, “A Comparative Study of Chinese and English Poetry “ helped me have a better understanding of the similarities and differences in forms and ideas of one image between two typical cultures, which also could improved my literary translation skills. “Theories and Schools of Linguistics “ assisted me with the

understanding of the ways in which languages have developed over time and the correctness to use English in various social contexts. Besides, the “Introduction to Literature” cultivated my great interest in female literature, in which from Mary Shelley to Jane Austen and Bronte sisters, all their works bear obvious female dignity and express the true self-consciousness of women, which is the topic that I intend to explore more in the future.

The reason why I choose to continue my further study in Aberystwyth is that Aberystwyth is an international renowned university with an outstanding educational system and excellent teaching staff. And its powerful resources on literature and a vigorous academic atmosphere attracts me most. Also, Britain is the birthplace of many great minds such as Shakespeare and Samuel Johnson, which would provide me with more opportunities to understand their works better at that culture background. Last, the advanced educational theories would facilitate me in the achievement of my academic progress and make a solid foundation for me before I accomplish my dream to be an excellent English teacher in the future.

Overall, I am fully prepared to undertake the study successfully, as I am a diligent and self-disciplined students with my A levels studies so far.